Flora's Lot by Katie Fforde (best books under 200 pages TXT) 📗

that, Mrs Jenkins. I'm Charles Stanza and this is mycolleague Flora - Stanza.’

‘Oh, are you married?' asked MrsJenkins.

‘Heavenforbid!' said Flora, laughing. 'We're distant cousins. Very distant. I'm just helping Charles out today.'

‘Oh,sorry,' said Mrs Jenkins, slightly embarrassed to have jumped to the wrong conclusion.

Charlesand Flora hovered on the doorstep, waiting to be allowed across the threshold.

‘Iwas expecting a Spanish or Italian gentleman,' said Mrs Jenkins, not askingthem in, possibly for a reason.

‘It's anItalian name but our branch of the family has lived in England for generations.’

By now MrsJenkins had stepped back sufficiently for them toget into the little hallway. Charles and Flora did so, then waited patiently.

‘It'sthe most awful mess, I'm afraid. I've done what I can, but . . .' She put out a hand and opened the door to the living room, deliberately not lookinginside. 'I suppose you'd better know the worst.’

The smellwas appalling and at first Flora couldn't tell whereit was coming from, it was so dark. Thick curtainscovered the windows and there was so much furniturepiled up in front of them what little light penetrated the curtains was blockedoff. Then she saw the mountain of take-away food cartonslittering the floor anda row of half-empty milk bottles.

‘Wehad to stay in a bed and breakfast last night,' said Mrs Jenkins, obviously greatly distressed. 'I wasgoing to try and make a start on it this morning but my husband told me it was better not to, not withoutproper equipment.'

‘Quiteright,' said Charles. 'This is a job for professionals.'

‘Myuncle got a bit eccentric towards the end. He was always a hoarder, and towards the end he wouldn't eventhrow away rubbish.'

‘Ican recommend a very good firm who'll deal with all this for you, Mrs Jenkins.' He smiled again. 'But don't worry,I've seen much worse than this.'

‘Sohave I,' said Flora, 'when I lived in student accommodation.' It wasn't true, and she suspected thatCharles was lying, too, but it was in a good cause.

‘Somerubber gloves might be a good idea,' said Charles.

‘I'll popout and get some,' offered Flora. 'I spotted a shop on thecorner. Is there anything you need, Mrs Jenkins?Air freshener? Milk? Chocolate biscuits?’

MrsJenkins laughed. 'Some chocolate digestives might makeit seem less awful. I'll fetch my purse—'

‘I'll payfor them,' said Flora. 'It's all part of the service. And don'tworry about all this, we're here now.' Flora gave MrsJenkins an encouraging smile and went.

Aware thatCharles couldn't do much without her, she was asquick as possible. When she got back, Charles, MrsJenkins and a man who was presumably Mr Jenkins were in thekitchen. It was a little less like the town dump thanthe first room they had seen and Mrs Jenkins had made a pot of tea.

‘Henever ate in here,' she explained, 'and the hot water's going, so I could wash a few cups and things. But it's sodreadfully sordid. It's like one of those television programmes I can'tbear to watch.'

‘Youwould come down here,' said Mr Jenkins. 'I said you'd be better just getting someone in to clear the house.'

‘Butthere might be valuable antiques in among this filth!' This was obviously a well-worn argument. 'We can't afford just to pay someone to take it allaway.'

‘I'm surethere'll be enough in this room alone to pay for that,' said Charles.

‘Really?'A spark of hope brightened Mrs Jenkins's anxious expression.

‘Ican see there is without even moving,' Charles re- assured her.'All that enamelware, it's very collectable.’

‘Iwould so hate to have wasted your time.’

‘Youwon't be doing that, I assure you,' said Charles.

‘Got your notebook, Flora?'

‘Letthe poor girl have her tea first.' Mrs Jenkins smiled at Flora and offered her a biscuit, obviouslyrelaxing a little.

‘Thevillage is very pretty,' said Flora, blowing crumbs.

‘It is,'agreed Mrs Jenkins. 'It would be nice to have a little walk, but I don'tsuppose there'll be time.'

‘There's noreason at all why you can't just leave us to it,'said Charles. 'At least to begin with. Why don't you two goand have a stroll and enjoy summer while we've got it.'

‘Goodidea,' said Mr Jenkins. 'This place gives me the creeps.’

When theirclients were safely out of the way, Flora looked at Charles.

‘I'msorry,' he said. 'I had no idea it would be as bad as this . . . but on the other hand,' he went onafter a pause, 'it's as well to know how bad the job can be.'

‘Yes,'agreed Flora, aware that her reaction was a sort of test.One little wrinkle of her nose and she'd be castigated for being squeamish.

‘I'mglad Annabelle didn't come. She'd be retching and heaving and having afit.'

‘Itis a bit gag-making,' said Flora, who was breathing through her mouth so as not to have to endure thesmell. 'Have you really seen much worse than this?’

Charlesshook his head. 'I don't suppose so, although you do get used to some pretty diresituations.' He sighed. 'It was nice of you to buy the biscuits.'

‘Itwas nice of you to tell them to go for a walk.'

‘We'll get on much quicker without them.'He shrugged off her compliment as if it werea cobweb.

‘Shall wemake a start, then?' said Flora, a little hurt, butdetermined not to show it. She had just started to warm to him, because he'dbeen so nice to the people, then he went cold on her again. 'Here are yourrubber gloves.'

‘Right,'said Charles, when he had pulled them on. 'A collection of enamelware. Twentyto fifty pounds. A nineteen-thirtieskitchen cupboard, it's in fairly good conditionunder the grime, possibly fifty to seventy.’

Florastarted writing, hoping she'd be able to read it later.

*

Charlestook Mr and Mrs Jenkins to the pub for lunch, an expenseFlora was quite sure would never be claimed from petty cash.

‘We'regoing to need to go back in there this afternoon,' he explained, 'but I suggest you stay out of the way. Whenwe've done our valuation and you've decidedwhat to keep, I'll contact the removal firm, the house-clearance peopleand the cleaners.'

‘I'm sure we don't want anything fromthere.' Mr Jenkins put his glass down with ashudder. 'It would never feel clean.'

‘Thereare some quite valuable pieces,' said Charles and Flora remembered removing half a dozen bottles of sour milk so he could inspect a sofa table. Shehad